Türkiye will host the 49th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee (WHC) in İstanbul from 27 June to 7 July 2027, the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced in a statement on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the decision was made during the 48th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held in Busan, the Republic of Korea, where member states agreed that Türkiye would serve as the host nation for the committee's next annual session in 2027.

The gathering is expected to bring together representatives from UNESCO member states, heritage experts, conservation specialists, and international organizations to discuss the protection, preservation, and management of cultural and natural sites recognized as having Outstanding Universal Value.

In its statement, the Foreign Ministry emphasized that hosting the high-level meeting reflects Türkiye's longstanding commitment to safeguarding the world's shared cultural and natural heritage.

"Türkiye will continue to contribute to international cooperation for the conservation of cultural and natural properties recognised as the common heritage of humanity," the ministry said.

The World Heritage Committee is responsible for implementing the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, evaluating nominations for inclusion on the World Heritage List, monitoring the conservation status of listed sites, and coordinating international efforts to protect endangered heritage properties.

As the host city, İstanbul—itself home to one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites—is expected to welcome hundreds of delegates from around the world for the ten-day session. Discussions are likely to include the inscription of new cultural and natural sites on the World Heritage List, the conservation of endangered properties, and strategies to address challenges such as climate change, urban development, armed conflict, and illicit trafficking of cultural property.

Türkiye is home to numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Historic Areas of İstanbul, Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia, Pamukkale-Hierapolis, Hattusha, Mount Nemrut, Ephesus, Ani Archaeological Site, Göbekli Tepe, Arslantepe Mound, and Gordion, reflecting the country's rich historical and cultural legacy.

The 2027 session is expected to further strengthen Türkiye's role in global heritage diplomacy while providing an international platform to promote the preservation of cultural and natural treasures for future generations. (ILKHA)